News: Ethiopia, Clay Aiken, Burger King, Michael Musto , Spain

Ethiopian clerics want ban on homosexuality enshrined in constitution: "Religious leaders in Ethiopia on Monday urged lawmakers to amend the country's constitution to ban homosexuality in a move they argue could further strengthen existing codes. At a meeting in the Ethiopian capital, nearly a dozen religious figures, including heads of Ethiopia's Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, adopted a resolution against homosexuality, which they termed as 'the pinnacle of immorality.'"

40-year-old British ex-boxer in court for anti-gay attack on 14-year-old boy: "Wirral magistrates heard Stephen Hope, 40, of Hull, only stopped his attack when he was slashed across the arm by the boy’s mother, who had panicked and grabbed a kitchen knife. The thick-set former drug user had befriended the woman four months prior to the attack on August 13. The court heard how having originally listened to the youth confide he might be homosexual, Hope grew increasingly angry, saying he was driving a wedge between him and his mother."

Gay Indian Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil goes undercover to try and find a partner: "Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil has been trawling the bars and clubs of a British seaside resort - even taking up a menial job - in a life-follows-art search for a soulmate. Gohil, crown prince of the former princely state of Rajpipla in Gujarat, is among three ‘undercover princes’ who have travelled from India, Sri Lanka and South Africa to star in a four-part British television documentary."

Spanish judge suspended for trying to stop lesbian from adopting: "The court’s ruling Tuesday says Ferrin ignored Spanish laws allowing homosexual couples to adopt and showed contempt for the woman’s sexual orientation while processing her application. Ferrin says he will appeal his suspension, and that he had only the child’s interests at heart."

Burlesque dancer Dita von Teese and Dr. Mervyn Silverman receive Award of Courage from amfAR: "Silverman, director of public health from 1977 to 1985, was feted for leadership in HIV prevention...Von Teese, a spokeswoman for the MAC AIDS Fund and a supporter of amfAR, was honored for putting her time and charisma into international fundraising and awareness efforts - not just for men, but women, too."

Nice going folks! I'm not sure where we can go from here -- we're already at the top. Maybe the acme of sinfulness? The zenith of evil? The height of turpitude?

/sarcasm

Really, though -- I am impressed that the clerics think we're so evil we need to be banned completely in their constitution, while I'm guessing that there is no mention of murder or adultery in that document.

Posted by: tjc | Dec 24, 2008 3:16:50 PM

Thanks for the Kirchik note...I too felt that folks were getting a bit too hot and bothered about the Warren invocation (a one minute prayer, for God's sake; not a Cabinet appointment). Tempers are still running hot after Prop. 8, for good reason, but honey, we've gotta cool down!

I disagree with Michael: We've been too silent for too long. It's unfortunate that honesty and assertiveness makes some people uncomfortable.

Doesn't Ethiopia have a major poverty problem? Do they want to be shunned, if not boycotted, by other nations for human rights abuses?

Posted by: John O' | Dec 24, 2008 7:07:37 PM

John O, it's just a meeting of religious clerics, not the actual governing body of Ethiopia, just like in the US (even though it's Africa). Poverty brought on by war and IMF/World Bank schemes and human rights abuses against the populations of East Africa (like slavery and ethnic cleansing) have been going on unabated for decades, even underwritten by western developed nations -- it's only come to your attention today?

I know if you had had another minute or two, it would have dawned upon you that these people, being leaders of their religious communities, have very little to do with the real structural problems that Ethiopia faces (a quick Google would find a plethora of quality articles on the subject) -- and is overshadowing the more important fact that should be occupying your mind right now about the region: the Ethiopian government attempted to overturn the already unstable government of Somalia, and is pulling out soon, leaving a nice gaping hole that the international community will be compelled to answer not only for Somalia, but Sudan and the whole horn of Africa region, including Kenya.

Now that actually may be a good thing for gay ex-members of the armed forces, because many of them are trained linguists in Semitic languages, as well as medics -- but I don't think waging an offensive war against clan militias bankrolled by the Saudis and Chinese is a good reason for correcting a bad policy decision, do you?

None of what I wrote, by the way, excuses the regressive stance of Ethiopian religious leaders (which was most likely a direct response of the Roman Catholic church), but more people will die in East Africa from having their refugee camp supplies cut off by militias than any spawned malevolence from self-important zealots who have confused themselves with God itself.

Posted by: Foochy | Dec 24, 2008 7:53:58 PM

That AP link about anti-gay violence was sobering. It exists, but never makes the news. What wat the one about an older gay couple, one in a wheelchair, brutally killed? Not a peep in the mainstream media.

I want to personally thank Andy Towle for being so admirably persistent in reporting these hate crimes. Andy, you've been valiant about letting us know, and I appreciate it- you are doing a great service to the community. It seems like a drip-drip of depressing incidents in isolated places, but it adds up hugely..

Without Towleroad, I might not know about these terrible crimes. Thank you for your very good work Andy.

Merry Christmas.

Posted by: Desch | Dec 24, 2008 8:34:45 PM

Desch to answer your concern the mainstream media sees us just as society sees us...LOWER THAN DOG SHIT.Im not gonna sugar-coat it,because its the truth.Oh yea they might be bringing up the whole prop 8 controversy but they try to twist it so we (the gay & lesbian community) come out looking like paronas,looking for a handout rather than "actually fighting for our rights" Thats why (since the election ended) I havent bothered to even watch the mainstream media,I use just about every gay news blog/website I can get access to.

"That AP link about anti-gay violence was sobering. It exists, but never makes the news."

Three black gay men were found murdered in New Orleans a week or so ago and I haven't heard a peep about it in the mainstream media OR the gay media (except for several black gay bloggers). What's up with that?

Maybe anti-gay violence doesn't make the news because the so-called gay movement is so preoccupied with "marriage equality".

What good does it do to have the right to get married when we don't even have the right to LIVE in all too many cases?

Posted by: elg | Dec 25, 2008 12:24:45 AM

Exactly, ELG! The gay rights movement HAS BECOME the gay marriage movement...no room for anything else. We don't even have universal worker protection yet! And all these idjits so caught up in the marriage issue. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally for full marriage equality, but not at the expense of EVERYTHING else. It just seems like we've really put the cart before the horse, and with THE most divisive issue we could find no less.

Posted by: Nick | Dec 25, 2008 10:07:37 PM

it is not an either/or proposition. porque no eres una nina normal? we have to start pushing back. why don't you get it? faggot, please.

on another topic, the coop was a major cutie as a boy. i bet he had no problem getting high-falutin' peen.

Posted by: nic | Dec 26, 2008 2:16:07 AM

btw, my comment was directed @NICK.

Posted by: nic | Dec 26, 2008 2:20:59 AM

I am so tired of CNN trying to turn its reporters into celebrities especially Anderson Cooper.

While Campbell Brown and my personal hero Rachel Maddow are researching their stories and delivering incisive reports Anderson is just another talking head readling the lines handed to him.

What made me especially angry is the special CNN advertised on Planet in Peril was just Andreson swimming with sharks and having other adventures...absolutely no substance...and once again just about Anderson.

Campbell Brown is so much better it is almost embarassing.

Posted by: tony the tigert | Dec 27, 2008 12:15:01 AM

Andy-Anderson Cooper is your variation on Rick Warren but Obama can make a better case for glorifying him than you can continuing to be a part of the AC drool machine. You admirably devote a lot of space to gays who've had the guts to come out. You demean them and yourself by going back to the AC trough again and again.

Posted by: Tom | Dec 27, 2008 3:59:42 PM

Anderson Cooper? Who cares?!

I'm grateful that this year, Towleroad finally cut back on the ridiculous worship of Jake Gyllenhal, now if we could only see the same in 2009 for Anderson Cooper.

It's great that a major network anchor is gay but Cooper doesn't deserve such fawning attention. He's a newsman. Cooper's best work was reporting on New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Since then, what great news reporting has Cooper done?

I appreciate Cooper's desire to be a "newsman" and not a "gay newsman." However, compare Cooper to journalists who openly fall into the category of women, gay or people of color. They have to navigate openly with their sexual orientation or race on the table.

Cooper instead gets to play the role of heterosexual, white guy reporter to most of American who doesn't know that he's gay. So, why does Cooper get brownie points?

Look at the vile sexist crap that Katie Couric endured. Doesn't she deserve, in some ways, more credit?

I don't know Cooper. I don't know how is sexual orientation hurt his career in the past. But, it's fair to say that, the lack of knowledge of it by the general public certainly aids in his acceptance.

Other Rachael Maddow, is there another nationally recognized newsperson who is openly gay?

Posted by: noah | Dec 27, 2008 4:17:17 PM

RE: PETA

I really wish news outfits/bloggers would just ignore PETA. Giving them media attention is exactly what they want. All the free publicity (in the name of making them look foolish) is actually helping them instead of hurtin them.

Posted by: alex | Dec 27, 2008 7:29:20 PM

Does anyone know why sevenweekstoequality.com, Cleve Jones and Dustin Lance Black's (once?) promising activism site, has been apparently untouched by human hands for several of the "seven weeks"?

WTF???????

What happened???????

Of course, the inauguration has even more significance relative to activism now due to the Rick Warren outrage.

Posted by: Potential Protestor | Dec 27, 2008 7:44:44 PM

@ Tony the Tiger: Did you even watch Planet in Peril? It was about serious issues, did provide real information, and Lisa Ling and Sanjay Gupta actually dominated the special as hosts at least as much if not more than Anderson. I've seen you post places under that name before about AC and your "facts" are always blatantly wrong or highly garbled. I doubt you even actually watch Maddow or Brown.

Anderson reads some copy and then questions someone or leads discussion, which is the same format as Maddow and Brown except he doesn't give editorial speeches like they sometimes do.

Posted by: rick | Dec 28, 2008 3:22:39 AM

A one minute prayer? Rick Warren? We're talking about the blowhard of blowhards here. There ain't no such thing as an evangelical preacher who can pray in under one minute. Bring a lunch and a book. It'll take that long. And, no, I ain't gonna "cool down". My civil rights and my humanity are NOT negotiable and are NOT debatable--with anyone! I don't care if it's a third-rate preacher no-nothing like Rick Warren or a bunch of stick-up-their-assholes Ethiopian clerics.